News - RunWashington

Runners help give a voice to veterans’ PTSD struggles

Published September 16, 2013 at 9:56AM | Updated June 25, 2015 at 5:11PM

Ritchard Steene and Stefanie Garcia push each other halfway through the Run for Recovering Heroes 10k. Photo: Charlie Ban

In the grand scheme of things, runners feeling misunderstood by friends and family members – -because they run for fun, go out in blizzards and rainstorms, etc. — isn’t the end of the world. They came together Sunday afternoon to help raise money to help another, more tragically misunderstood population — veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Run for Recovering Heros races Sunday afternoon in Carderock raised money for the Patton Veterans Project, an organization managed by the grandson of Gen. George S. Patton that helps veterans produce short films to better communication their mental and emotional struggles after returning from combat.

Records fall in three of four Navy-Air Force races Saturday

By David Pittman

Published September 15, 2013 at 9:51PM | Updated June 25, 2015 at 5:11PM

Pat Fernandez flees the chase pack at the Navy-Air Force Half Marathon. Photo: Cheryl Young

Sarah Biss knew little about Saturday’s Navy-Air Force Half Marathon before embarking on a vacation to the United States. She certainly didn’t plan on winning the race.

But that’s just what Biss, 36, did, taking the women’s half marathon title in 1:23:18 Saturday.

A last chance for Boston, right on the towpath

By Rebecca Fritchman

Published September 15, 2013 at 8:39PM | Updated August 10, 2015 at 12:30PM

Grace Hierro, Eugene Koonin and Grant Powell chase Boston qualifiers at the Abebe Bikila Marathon. Photo: Antonio Estrada

The inaugural Abebe Bikila marathon kicked off at 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. Saturday on a day which could be described as a runner’s dream.

The temperature was in the low 60s at the start and did not crest above 75. This race has run for many years as solely a half-marathon, but this year a 26.2 mile event was added, mainly out of demand for a Saturday race which could be used as last chance Boston qualifier.

Family, friends, teammates come together for Lauren’s Run

By Dickson Mercer

Published September 9, 2013 at 10:02AM | Updated June 25, 2015 at 5:11PM

Jack Woodall and Ruth Cook traveled from Knoxville to honor their daughter and cousin Lauren Woodall Roady at the Lauren's Run 5k. Photo: Charlie Ban

The inaugural Lauren’s Run was less of a race than a reunion. At 9 a.m., race time, the starting line in Rock Creek Park was clear as Jerry Alexander, the coach of GRC Racing Team, gave a short speech about Lauren Woodall Roady’s “indomitable spirit.”

That spirit powered Lauren’s fast rise from recreational to elite runner. But it wasn’t just running. It was the balanced yet tireless way Lauren lived her life, applying her talent and energy to her training and racing, her work as a lawyer at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, her baking, her commitment to family and friends, and more. As one of her close friends, Jennifer Harris, who met Lauren in second grade and now lives in Connecticut, said at the event, Lauren “could multi-task like nobody’s business.”

Choose your harrier

By Charlie Ban

Published September 9, 2013 at 10:00AM | Updated April 11, 2018 at 3:44PM

Poolesville's Chase Weaverling looks to be one of the top cross country runners in Mongtomery County, and perhaps the state of Maryland. Photo: submitted

RunWashington convened a meeting of eight coaches to figure out who is poised for a big cross country season. The participating coaches represented a cross section of schools in the area and, by consensus, they selected the top 10 runners in the Washington, D.C. area, the ones we’d send to a battle royale-style race against other metropolitan areas. The best of the best around here.

They also selected top sevens remaining in each state- Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. These coaches also provided insight into what makes running in the D.C. area so special.

Defending Va. state champs kick off season on top

By Charlie Ban

Published September 9, 2013 at 9:56AM | Updated April 11, 2018 at 3:43PM

Despite losing two national-class runners to graduation, the Chantilly boys and Lake Braddock girls started their state title defense with victories at the Monroe Parker Invitational Saturday in which was, for the most part, an early preview of the Northern Region meet.

Louis Colson staked his claim to the northern region, and perhaps the state, which has been vacated by three seniors who finished ahead of him last year. Before today, Colson, a Thomas Edison senior, had never broken 15:00 for the 2.98 mile course at Burke Lake. On his first race back, he won in 14:43 after breaking away from George C. Marshall’s junior Mackenzie Haight after two miles (9:48).

GWU adds track and field for 2014-2015 school year

By Charlie Ban

Published September 9, 2013 at 9:53AM | Updated April 11, 2018 at 3:43PM

These Colonials will have track season to look forward to next year. Photo: Charlie Ban

In hopes of boosting the existing cross country teams’ fortunes, George Washington University will add track and field teams in the 2014-2015 school year. The school will also add diving teams to the existing swimming teams.

After discussing the options with Athletic Director Patrick Nero last spring, Colonials cross country coach Terry Weir said things moved quickly over the summer to set up a return of the indoor and outdoor teams for men and women.

Parks Half Sparks New Traditions While Celebrating Old

By Jamie Corey

Published September 9, 2013 at 9:44AM | Updated June 25, 2015 at 5:18PM

Frank Fung and David Storper represent the MCRRC elite team at the Parks Half Marathon. Photo: Steve Zuraf

The debut of a grand pianist in a full tuxedo complete with tails at mile six was not the only new tradition that the Montgomery County Road Runner Club’s Parks Half Marathon started in its eighth year. The runners themselves were determined to mark new ground by crushing the old course record by more than a minute.

Filled with hills, scenic parks and trails, the race included an elite class of runners, many from the local area.

Competitor Groups bids farewell to elites at Rock ‘n Roll races

By Dickson Mercer

Published September 3, 2013 at 12:05PM

Chris Mills and Tumicha Horsa led this year's Rock and Roll USA Half Marathon, but how many other runners noticed? Photo: Charlie Ban

“Competitor Group is at it’s [sic] core a health and wellness company dedicated to promoting and enhancing an active lifestyle. Lifestyle is the key word, not Sport. Rock n Roll marathons have always been about the journey, the commitment, the personal dedication required to train and finish a half or full marathon. We’re not about how fast you complete the race, we’re about the fact that you showed up on the start line and the commitment one has made to complete the journey.”

The above quote comes from Competitor Group CEO Scott Dickey, explaining the company’s decision to disassemble its elite athlete program in a response to an earlier piece by Toni Reavis. Competitor puts on the Rock ‘n’ Roll half-marathon and marathon series.

Timing is everything for the Paul Thurston 4.5 Miler

By Charlie Ban

Published August 26, 2013 at 11:28AM | Updated June 25, 2015 at 5:18PM

Runners hoping to make it to the Paul Thurston 4.5 Miler Tuesday night found themselves stuck between the clock and a hot race.

The race served as the final leg of the DC Road Runners Bunion Derby series for the summer, but holding it at Burke Lake Park in Fairfax Station was balancing act. If the club held it on a weekend, runners would have to pay $8 to enter the park. If it was on a weekday, evenings would be limited by the park’s closing time at sundown, roughly 8:00 p.m. With a 6:45 starting time, it was up to the runners as to how they would manage the end of their workday and fight rush hour traffic to get to the race.